From the 'tough love' of coach Van Sy Son to Dinh Bac's triumphs at the U23 Asian Championship.

In the early hours of January 17th, the Vietnam U23 team secured a breathtaking victory against the UAE U23 team, propelling Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad into the semi-finals. Once again, the name Nguyen Dinh Bac was proudly announced. With a stunning, dreamlike header, the striker from Nghe An not only changed history for Vietnam U23 against their opponent but also caused football fans in Nghe An to erupt in pride and joy.

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There's a small detail that's remembered for a long time. After the victory against U23 Saudi Arabia in the group stage of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, Nguyen Dinh Bac bowed and shook hands with his opponent. Without exaggeration or arrogance, that polite gesture delighted the fans. In football, sometimes a bow speaks louder than a goal. It shows that a young player understands his own worth and that, to become a mature person, one must first know how to respect others.

These days, Dinh Bac is constantly mentioned as a standout figure in the Vietnam U23 team. He scores crucial goals, making his mark with his speed, confidence, and decisiveness in decisive moments. Many call it an explosion of talent. But for those who have followed the journey of the striker born in 2004, this is not a gift of luck. It is the result of a process of refinement, sweat, setbacks, and even moments of being pulled back at just the right time.

Nguyen Dinh Bac was once the kind of player who easily gained favor. Young, full of potential, he quickly rose to prominence after the Asian Cup. But the spotlight can also be blinding. Just one misstep, one moment of complacency, one lax lifestyle habit, and his career could plummet very quickly. Vietnamese football has witnessed many talents who rose early and faded just as fast, not because of a lack of ability, but because they couldn't manage themselves when fame came too soon.

In that context, Dinh Bac's story is particularly noteworthy. He was once very close to falling into the trap of misunderstanding. And more importantly, he escaped. Not through flattery, but through blunt words, strict discipline, and an environment that forced him to readjust.

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In February 2024, right after the explosive Asian Cup, Dinh Bac was disciplined for reporting late to the training camp in Quang Nam. Coach Van Sy Son recounted that the team had requested an early training camp to prepare for the tight schedule, and the players had arranged their own transportation to join the camp, but Dinh Bac failed to show up as scheduled, even turning off his phone and failing to communicate as planned. He only appeared a day later.

Many people might sympathize with a young, up-and-coming player. But Van Sy Son chose the opposite approach. He felt compelled to impose a punishment because otherwise, the team's discipline would be compromised. He removed Dinh Bac from the first team, barred him from playing in the V League, and relegated him to training with the youth team. He also refused to accept a perfunctory apology. He considered this not the first time, as Dinh Bac had previously violated discipline several times for various reasons.

Van Sy Son's firmness doesn't lie in punishing out of anger. It lies in his professional principles. He stated frankly that in the world of football, good skills without good ethics will sooner or later lead to dismissal. The younger the player, the more they need to be honed; only then can they become a good person. This strictness has drawn considerable criticism, but he accepts it. He does this not only for the team, but also for the future of Dinh Bac and other young players.

Then, in May 2024, Dinh Bac was again reprimanded for his individualistic play. In a situation where he broke through near the byline against Hoang Anh Gia Lai, he decided to shoot from a tight angle instead of passing to a teammate in a more favorable position. After the mistake, he also displayed a hot-tempered attitude. Van Sy Son was disappointed because what he wanted from Dinh Bac was not just skill, but also teamwork and emotional control.

After the match, he criticized directly, saying that football is a team sport. When you have a 49% chance of scoring but your teammate has a 51% better chance, you should pass the ball. He emphasized that, to become a great player, Dinh Bac needs a lot of guidance, he must learn to listen and learn, instead of just trying to show off his own way on the field.

Around the same time, there was a transfer controversy when Dinh Bac canceled his agreement to join Hanoi FC at the last minute. Van Sy Son believed his player was misled and had an inflated sense of self-worth. It was another clash between expectations and reality, between external applause and the path to professionalism within. And once again, the coach chose to bring his player back down to earth with frankness, even knowing that he would continue to be the center of controversy.

Those "hardships," viewed from the present day, turned out to be the strongest foundation for his growth. When he joined Hanoi Police FC, Dinh Bac entered a highly competitive and disciplined environment that demanded players prove themselves every day. He went through a difficult period, sometimes experiencing prolonged goal droughts. But instead of panicking or reacting impulsively, he persevered in training, waited for his moment, and broke through.

On the U23 team, Dinh Bac showed a different side of himself. He followed tactics, knew how to move to create space, knew when to accelerate, and finished neatly when opportunities arose. His decisive shot with his weaker foot against U23 Saudi Arabia was not just a display of skill, but also the composure of someone who had gone through days of being punished, reprimanded, and forced to improve himself.

Therefore, when Dinh Bac bowed his head to shake hands with his opponent, it could be understood as a sign of a player reaching maturity. In that journey, Van Sy Son didn't need to be present at the end. But it was his strict choices that kept Dinh Bac there, allowing Vietnamese football to have another bright star today. And most importantly, that star knows how to keep his feet on the ground before thinking about soaring high.